| Never leave oil on the stove unattended. | | | | problem. If there is a substantial buildup in your |
| Leaving cooking oil on the range top while you are | | | | stove, clean out the bigger "chunks" of food |
| not in the kitchen area is a leading cause of | | | | particles prior to using the self cleaning feature. |
| kitchen fires. Let's say that you are heating the oil | | | | This will prevent heating the larger "chunks" to the |
| to make those wonderfully crisp french fries that | | | | point where they could catch fire. If there is a fire |
| you love. It only takes a few seconds for the oil | | | | in the oven, do not attempt to open the door and |
| to overheat, begin boiling out and now you have a | | | | exit the area. The safest bet is to call your local |
| fire. | | | | fire department and have them check it for you. |
| If a small fire develops in a pot or pan, cover it | | | | Have a few safety items in your home. |
| with a lid, turn off the cooking element or burner | | | | There are three things that I recommend you |
| and let it cool. If you don't have lid handy, then | | | | have to improve your fire safety in the kitchen |
| you can use baking soda also. | | | | and your home in general. |
| Turn in those handles. | | | | - Get a fire extinguisher. You don't need a huge |
| If you have pots or pans on the range top, be | | | | one, a 5 or 10 pound extinguisher can be picked |
| sure to turn the handles inward, and away from | | | | up at your local home goods store, such as |
| pointing into the open area of the kitchen. Not | | | | Wal-mart, Home Depot or other shopping places. |
| only can this help prevent little ones from grabbing | | | | - Have and test your smoke detectors. Just |
| a hot pot of water and dumping it on them, but it | | | | having a smoke detector doesn't do any good if |
| can also prevent someone from accidentally | | | | you don't test it regularly. Smoke detectors |
| bumping a pot or pan and causing it to spill over. | | | | should be tested at least monthly to ensure |
| Keep it clean. | | | | proper operation. Be sure to change the batteries |
| Keeping your oven area and stove top clean are | | | | also. A good reminder of this is when you spring |
| vital aspects of preventing a fire. Grease and | | | | forward or fall back with your time change, you |
| other food buildup can eventually cause a fire | | | | should also change the batteries. |
| from the residues that are left over time. Use the | | | | - Have a carbon monoxide detector. If you home |
| self-cleaning feature on your oven if it needs, and | | | | uses any gas appliances, such as a furnace, water |
| a good wipedown on the surface won't hurt | | | | heater or cooking appliances, you should have a |
| either. | | | | carbon monoxide detector. Carbon Monoxide is an |
| Keep the door closed. | | | | odorless, colorless and tasteless gas that is |
| In the previous point I advised to use the self | | | | produced when using fossil fuels such as propane |
| cleaning feature of your stove when the need | | | | or natural gas. This could prevent you from being |
| arises. This can lead to another potential fire | | | | a statistic to a silent killer. |
